Apparatus for recovering volatile solvents.



G. F. HOPEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR REOOVERING VOLATILE SOLVENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1911.

1,063,686, Patented June 3, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Salve/1f Condenser O. F. HOPEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR REOOVBRING VOLATILE SOLVENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17 1911.

1,063,686, Patented June 3, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. F. HOPEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR REGOVERING VOLATILE SOLVENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.1'7, 1911.

1,063,686. Patented June 3, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

64 3g 36 7g 31. 29 O 5 O Z6 72 3.9 O M 34 .9 36 O o O 75 E o o G. P.HOPEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR REOOVERING VOLATILE SOLVENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1911'.

1,063,686, Patented June 3,1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WWI

s: I /////////AI O. F. HOPEWELL. APPARATUS FOR REGOVERING VOLATILBSOLVENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.17. 1911.

- 8 Patented June 3, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ZZZ

g Z16 a cnaanns r. no1 E wELn, or nnwron, uassAcn'nsn'r'rsL arrmrns FOBnnccvname VOLA'IILE sonvnnrs.

1 Specification oi Letters Patent. I

Patented nine 3, 1913.

Application filed April 17, 1911. Serial No. 621,578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. HOPE- WELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and

resident of Newton, county of Middlesex,

and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatusfor Recovering Volatile Solvents, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawing representing like parts.

This inventionrelates to an apparatus for vaporizing and recovering thevolatile sol-' vent or solvents from coated fabrics. Fab rics .arecoated with various compounds such as rubber compound, linseed oilcompound, gun cotton' compound, and medicinal compounds for varlouspurposes such as the production of waterproof or adhesive coatings,enamel coatings, artificial leather coatings, and surgical coatings.Such coatings, hereinbefore referred to simply by way of example,contain very considerable quantities of volatile solvents, alcohol,naphtha, amylacet-ate, and similar substancesbeing among thosefrequently employed. The dope or compound with which the fabric iscoated is mixed with the proper solvent or solvents toplace it in propercondition for being spread in an even and homogeneous form upon thefabricj,'but when the coating is dried these solvents are released inthe form of vapors and if not recovered are wasted. These solvents arevaluable and constitute a large proportion of the cost of the compoundwith which the fabric is coated. Moreover, such solvents mixed in air inthe proper proportions are highly explosive. 4

The present invention presents an appaportion of these solvents may berecovered with the practical elimination of the risk of explosion. I

The risk of explosion is eliminated and great economy assured in thisinvention by the elimination of airfrom the apparatus during the processof recovery. If air is not present so as to become mixed with thesolvent vapors then'the're is no danger of explosion because it requiresa mixture of the air and vapor fonthat purpose.

If, in the process of recovery of'the solvents, air is used, the vaporbeing mixed with the air and carried therewith through when the steps oftheprocess, then there is neeessarily great Waste of energy. In order to'VSLPOIIZB the solvents not only do. the solvents have to be heated butthe air, which'is usually much greater in volume, must also be heated tothe required tm:

pera'ture. Then when the resultant mixture of air and solvent iscondensed it is again' necessary not only to cool the solventvapor tothe temperature at which it may be re covered in liquid form but it isalso necessary to cool to the same temperature the much greater'volumeof air with which it is commingled; It will thus be seen that the energyrequired to raise this volume of air to therequire'd "temperature tovaporize the solvent and then to lower the same volume of air from thetemperatureto which it has thus .been raised to the temperature requiredto condense the solvent vapor is entirely wasted. The provision of meansby which air is eliminated from the apparatus is, therefore, animportantand valuable feature of this invention. In order to eliminatethe air from the apparatus means must be provided for sealing theopenings for the admission of the fabric toand its exit from theapparatus so as to prevent the entrance of air or the escape of vapor.As a specific feature of this invention, this sealing is effected bymaking the admission and exit openings one and locating this opening inliquid, such as water.

The apparatus comprises a vaporizing chamber or box through which thecoated fabric passes outof the presence of air and in the presence ofheating means by which the vaporization of the solvents is acceleratedand secured to the fullest extent.

ratus by means of which a very large pro- 5 In order that the processmay be per- 3 formed rapidly and thus economically the coated fabricmust be brought to the maximum temperature required for efiicientvaporization in as short an interval of time 1 as possible. But it isundesirable to bring the coated fabric to the required temperature atonce largely for the reason that vapors of water or solvent will besuddently gformed and bursting through the coating i will form pin holesor imperfections in its surface. This it will be noted is truewhether'or not the vaporization be effected in the presence of air.While the present I invention is designed particularly to secure therecovery of solvents without the use of air, thisjeature of theinvention is of value even in processes where air is used.

The present invention, therefore presents means for introducing thefreshly coated fabric to successive hi her degrees of temperature untilthe maxlmum temperature is attained, and in the particular form ofapparatus herein illustrated this is secured by the employment of one ormore steam heated mangles, successive sections of which are heated tosuccessively and preferably higher degrees of temperature so that the fano in passing therethrough is gradually brought to the requiredtemperature.

The present invention also provldes means for automatically securing theelimination of air from the vaporizing chamber, means for relieving thevaporizing chamber from any dangerous pressure, and various otherfeatures and combinations of features, all of which will more fullyappear from the accompanying description and drawings, and the noveltyof which will be particularly defined by the appended claims.

The drawings show diagrammatically and in detail a preferred form ofapparatus embodying the invention. The piping employed in the apparatusis shown chiefly diagrammatically throughout because the details of theconnections and the precise ,positions of the piping is immaterial solong as the arrangement shown diagrammatically is secured. Inthedrawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation chiefly in diagrammatical form ofan apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thevaporizing chamber or box; Fig. 3 is a. central vertical cross sectionof the vaporizing chamber or box; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical crosssection of the vaporizing box taken through the axes of the mangles;Fig. 5 is a central vertical cross section of a balanced valve used. inthe apparatus; Fig. 6 is a top plan, partially in transverse crosssection, of said valve.

The vaporizing chamber is shown as heated by steam, and specifically aconstruction of rotary mangle is illustrated for that purpose, but it isobviousthat the particular means employed for'heating is not anessential part of the invention, nor is the particular form of deviceemployed essential. It is preferred, however, to employ the steam heatedapparatus and to make use of two rotary mangles such as illustrated.

The vaporizing chamber in the construction shown isformed between theconnected back plates of the mangles andface plates connected thereto.Vertical ribbed side plates 1 rest upon the floor or suitable support,and are secured together at their forward ends by plates 3, 4 and 5which will be described in connection with the water 1,oes,ese

seal. At the top the side plates are secured together by a top plate 6.The inclosure of the vaporizing chamber is completed by a series ofsectional steam heated mangleback plates 7 to 12 inclusive and 15 to 23inclusive, the sectional plate 7 being bolted to the top plate 6, thesectional plates 12 and 15 being bolted to the transverse plate 24, thesectionalplate 23 being bolted to the transverse bracket plate 25,secured in turn to the front plate 5, while the flanges of the severalsectional plates are bolted together as shown and their ends are securedto the side plates 1. A closed chamber, except for the openings to .bedescribed, is therefore formed for the vaporization of the solvents. Thecoated fabric is led into and out of this chamber through a singleopening sealed with a liquid such as water. This opening is provided bythe plates 3, 4, and 5 already referred to. These plates are secured attheir edges to the side plates 1, and the plates 3 and 5 extend up fromand are secured to a transverse plate 26, which in turn is secured tothe side plates 1, while the plate 4 extends downwardly from the topplate 6 in between the plates 3 and 5, stopping short of the plate 26 soas to leave a space between the plate 26 and its lower edge. Thus thereis formed a vertical U- shaped water pocket between the plates 3, 4 and5 through which the fabric may pass from the exterior to the interior ofthe vaporizing chamber and vice-versa. This pocket is made ofconsiderable depth because the pressure in the vaporizing chamber willbe considerably greater and in some instances might be less thanatmospheric pressure and the level of the water in the inner leg of thechamber .will necessarily be much lower than that in the outer leg.

In order to keep the back of the coated fabric as dry as possible abacking belt is provided with which the back of the coated fabric ismaintained in contact during its passage back and forth through thewater seal. Such a backing belt is shown at 27 and is guided aboutrollers 28, 29, 30 and 31. Other rollers 32 and 33 pressing against theexterior runs of the backing belt serve to maintain its course in thewater seal and aid in propelling it. The backing belt is propelled byrollers 29 and 32 which are positively driven, as will appear in thesubsequent description.

The proper tension upon the backing belt and the avoidance of slacktherein is secured by the take-up device, of which the roller 28 forms apart. For this purpose the roller 28 is mounted in bearings 34 slidingon vertical rods 35 secured in brackets 36 secured-to the front plate tof the apparatus. Flexible connectors 37 extend from the bearings 34over pulleys 38 journaled on the brackets 36 to counterweights 39.

The roller 28 is thus raised by the action of the ceunterweights 39,takes up. any'slack in the belt 27 and controls the tension thereof, -Asillustrated, the counterweights may be varied by adding or subtractinglarger partially described. The fabric in its travel passes around aplurality of rotary vmangles between the steam heated drums of themangles and the .segmental -packing plate already referred to. In thedrawings two such drums 40 and 41' are shown and the constructlon ofeach is slmilar, as appears from Fig. 4. f The drum 40 is formed of twoheads 42 and 43 andacylinjder 44 bolted thereto; The head 42' extendsout through hearings in the circular section 45 r of the side plate 1,the circular section being bolted in place by bolts 46. The hub of thehead 42 has keyed thereto a gear 47. The opposite head 43 extendsoutthrough a bearing in another circular section 48 of the opposite sideplate 1 and the hub of this head 43 is axially apertured throughout, asshown at 49, and this aperture forms the steam inlet to the interior ofthe drum. An exhaust pipe 50 extends through the cent-er of the aperture49 and forms the outlet for the steam from the interior of the drum. Theconstruction of the drum 41 is similar to that of the drum 40. The hub51 of the drum 41 has keyed thereto a gear 52- which drives the gear 47by means of an intermediate gear 53 journaled on the shaft 54, while thehub 51 is driven directly from any suitable source of power by the worm.55 mounted on the transverse shaft 56 enof the roll 29 and. through thepinion 60 with the gear 61 on the shaft of the roller 33. Suitable idler'rolls 62 and 63 are mounted between the mangle drums 40 and 41 fortransferring the fabric from the former to the latter. Windows 64 and 65are provided at convenient points for inspecting the interior of thevaporizing chamber from without and any suitablemeans may be employed ifdesired for lightinst the interior of the vaporizing chamber.

The fabric is indicated at 66 as coming from the spreader after properinspection, and is shown as passing with its back against an idler roll67 journaled in pro jections 68 from the base of the front plate 1. Fromthis roll it passes up over the roll 28 Where it comes in contact withthe backing belt with which it remains in contact as it passes downthrough the water seal and solvents up over the roller 29 to themangles. When the fabric enters the vaporizing chamber it is usuallyfreshly coated and until it reaches the mangle the only point at whichits face is liable to contact with any surface is at the location of therollenffd; This roller" may run only to the edges of the backing beltand not touch the coated fabric if-desired. In-any event, the 'rollers'29. and 33- being positively driven there is no tendency to stretch thefabric or place tension thereon so as to produce any substantialpressure of the roller 31 upon the fabric. Again the water with whichthe roller 31 is surrounded if it extends across the fabric will preventits adherence to or damage of the coated surface of the fabric.

From the roller 29 the fabric passes to the mangles, running around thedrums 40 and 41, being transferred from, one to the other by the idlerrollers 62 and 63. From the mangles the fabric passes to the roller .33where it again comes in contact with the backing belt 27, passes throughthe water seal back over the roller 32 down to an idler roller 69journaled at the bottom of the machine, and thence away, from theapparatus. Live steam is connected to the several segmental sections ofthe backing plates of the mangle drums and circulates therethrough by asystem of piping such as illustrated more or less diagrammatically inthe drawings.

As before stated, if the coated fabric be suddenly brought to a highdegree of temperature. the Water and solvent suddenly turning into vaporbursts through the coating, forming pin holes and imperfections therein.In the present construction, therefore, the heating apparatus isarranged so that successive sections thereof reachedby the fabric in itstravel are at successively 7 different degrees of temperature.

In. the construction shown, the live steampipe coming from the boiler isindicated at 70 and extends at 71 to the segmental back plate section 7.The segmental back plate.

sections 7, 8 and 9 are connected together by' plpes 72, and the section9 is connected by the pipe 73 with the exhaust pipe 74.-

A branch 75 of the live steam pipe extends to the segmental back platesection 10. The sections 10, 11, 12, and 13 are connected to gether bythe pipes illustrated, and a pipe 76 extends from the last section 13 tothe exhaust 74. A pipe 77 extends from the live steam pipe to thesegmental back plate section14. The sections 14, 15, 16' and 17 areconnected together by piping as shown and a pipe 78 extends fro-m thelast section 17 to the ex haust 74. 'A pipe 79 extends from the livesteam pipe to the segmental back plate section 18. The sections 18, 19,and 20 are connected together by piping as shown, and a pipe80 extendsfrom the last'section 20 to the exhaust 74. A pipe 81 extends from thelive steam pipe ,to the segmental back plate 23. The sections 23, 22 and21 are connected together by pipingas shown and a pipe 82 extends fromthe section 21 to the exhaust 74. The drums are heated by the live steampipes 85 connected to the apertures 49. and pipes 86 extend from thepipes 50 to the exhaust. At suitable points hand valves are provided asillustrated, and also automatic steam regulating valves 83 the lattervalves enabling the sections of the heating apparatus controlled therebyto be maintained at desired and different temperatures. Suitable steamtraps 87 are provided at required points.

Branch or shunt pipes provided with suitable hand valves are located asillustrated in the system of piping, and a detailed description thereofis unnecessary.- As will be seen they enable the live steam to passeither directly or through the automatic regulating valves to thevarious sections so that by opening and closing various combinations ofthe hand valvesthe temperature of the four sections may be varied asdesired. This enables the four successive sections illustrated to bemaintained at different degrees of temperature according to theconditions which it may be found necessary to comply with in theoperation of the apparatus.

With the four automatic steam regulating valves illustrated the foursuccessive sections may be and preferably are maintained at successivelyhigher degrees of tempera ture and the two drums at any desiredtemperature, such for example, as that of the first of their respectivebacking plates. The

fabric thus in passing through the mangles comes in juxtaposition to andis thus brought byfour temperatures successively increased to themaximum degree of heat.

It may be found, however, that other arrang'ements of the temperatureare necessary and the system of piping and the arrangement of automaticregulating valves, hand valves and shunt sections enable any desireddegree of temperatureto be maintained in the two drums and four backingsections.

' When the apparatus is started it is necessary to eliminate the airfrom the vaporizing chamber and for this purpose an outlet .is providedat 90 from the live steam pipe into the chamber. In starting the devicethis outlet is opened, steam enters the chamher and forces the airthrough a pipe 91, the

valve92 of which is opened by hand into a flue 93 extending up to theroof.' A second pipe 94 connects the vaporizing chamber with the flueand in this pipe a thermostatic air relief valve 05 is located. Anysmall quantity of air in the vaporizerv which collects during theoperation of the apparatus, or which is not driven out by the'steam instarting, will collect around this valve and cool ,it. When cooled thevalve opens and lets the airout automatically into the flue. As soon asthe air passes out through the valve the hot vapor comes in contact withthe valve, heats it, and automatically closes it. In this manner any airin the vaporizer is automatically passed out into the flue,

preventing the occurrence of any explosive mixture in the vaporizer. Theflue 93 is also provided with a check valve 96 beneath the pipes 91 and93 so that in case of any explosion or undue pressure in the vaporizerthis valve will automatically open and provide a vent so .that no injurywill be done to the apparatus or the building within which it islocated, and so that the water in the water seal will not be expelledallowing the escape of the vapor through the admission opening to thechamber.

The coated fabric is fed positively through the vaporizer because itwill be noted that the drums and the rollers driving the backing beltare positively driven at gles collect in the vaporizing chamber in theform of vapor unmixed with air and passes therefrom to the condensingapparatus. This condensing apparatus, which is shown in the drawing indiagrammatic form, is intended to be common to a number of vaporizers.For example, there may be one vaporizer for each strip of fabric beingspread, and several of these Vaporizers may be piped up to the singlecondensing ap aratus. This condensing apparatus is s owndiagrammatically in Fig. 1 because it is not necessary to describe thedetails of the numerous elements thereof, for these elements are allfamiliar and Well known.

The condenser proper is shown at 97 and should be located Well above thevaporizing chamber as, for example, upon the roof of the building. It isshown as containing a coil 98 through which the refrigerating agent iscirculated from the cooler 99 by means of the pump 100.

The vaporizer is connected by a pipe 101 with the condenser and asuitable balanced piston valve 102 is located in this pipe near thevaporizer and is so constructed that any increased pressure in thevaporizer will permit the vapor to go through into the condenser and anychange in the condensed vapor will have no effect upon the opening andclosing function of the valve as'that will be controlled entirely by thepressure in the vaporizer itself and independent of any other vaporizerand independent of the condenser pressure. Such a valve is especiallyvaluable where several Vaporizers are connected up to a singlecondensing apparatus because the conditions in the various vaporizersare liable to be quite different. A preferred form of valve for thispurpose is illustrated in detail in Figs. and 6. Therein the valvecasing 200 is shown as containing two chambers, a chamber 201 opening at202 to the pipe leading to the vaporizer, and a chamber 203 opening at204 to the pipe leading to the condenser. These chambers are connectedby alined port's 205 and 206. A

piston rod 207 is mounted to slide longitudi This piston rod carriesthree pistons 213,

seating in the port 205, 214, seating in the port 206, and 215, seatingin a chamber 216 in line with these ports and opening to the atmosphereat 217. It will thus be seen that any pressure entering the valvethrough the port 204 will act equally against the pistons 213 and 214and so have no effect to either open' or close the valve, while anypressure entering the valve through the chamber 201 while acting equallyon the pistons 213 and 214 will act on the piston 215 and so open thevalve to the extent allowed by the condition of the spring 209.

The condensed solvents flow by gravity from the condenser into theU-shaped pipe 103, to the upper end oflwhich the overflow pipe 104 isconnected and leads into the receiving tank 105. The U-shaped pipe 103provides a liquid seal against the atmospheric pressure, because thepressure in the condenser will be well under that of the atmosphere.This enables the solvent to flow by gravity over into the overflow pipe104 and down into the receiving tank, an air outlet 106 being providedto prevent any siphonic action.

An'air chamber 107 is mounted above and connected to the condenser 97and is provided with a thermostatic air relief valve 108 having asimilar function to the valve 95 already described, .thus allowing anyair which has collected in the condensing chamher to be automaticallywithdrawn therefrom. Since the pressure in the condenser is below thatof the atmosphere a vacuum pump 109 is shown connected to the outletfrom the valve 108.

The water in the water seal will become more or less impregnated with.the solvent vapors, and this invention provides a means for recoveringthe solvents from the water of the seal. For that purpose a closed tankis shown at 110 containing a steam heated coil 111 and connected by thepipe 112 to.

the condenser 97. A pipe 113 runs from the lowermost point of the waterseal chamber to the tank 110 by means of which when the apparatus isshut down the water in the seal may withdrawn into the tank 110 andthere heated to vaporize any solvent contained therein. The vapor willpass therefrom into the condenser and condense with the vapor from thevaporizer. A pipe 114 is shown by meausof which the water seal chambermay be refilled. The condensed solvent received in the tank 105 may beseparated into its com onent liquids by any well known process ofractional distillation.

It will be seen that the a parat-us described secures the recovery ofthe solvents from the coated fabric in a rapid, economical and safemanner, the air being eliminated entirely from the system, and thiscondition being automatically maintained. The vapor is handled inasubstantially pure form without danger of explosion'and with theminimum amount of energy. for heating and refrigeration. The goodscontaining the solvent to be reclaimed are also heated by directconduction instead of by air or other convection, and thus the'heat isbrought to the goods directly with the minimum loss and in the shortestinterval of time, this retrol of the temperature and by heating throughsuccessive stages of temperature. The water seal prevents any escape ofvapor or admission of air. The check valve in the flue 93 takes care ofany abnormal increase in pressure or explosion due to accident, and thewater seal itself provides an additional safety valve in the case of anyextra abnormal contingency. The fabric being handled 100 by thepositively driven rolls running at uniform peripheral speed is notstretched or distorted, and passes from the apparatus in perfectcondition. The connection of a plurality of Vaporizers to a singlecondensing 10 apparatus renders the apparatus highly flexible andenables it'to be employed in connection with various spreading orcoating machines located at differentpoints in the plant.

If it is found of advantage to carry on the process in the presence ofmoisture the apparatus is so constructed that steam may be sprayed intothe vaporizing box to th extent required through the opening It is to benoted that the back or uncoated side of the fabric rests directly uponthe mangle drums. The heat thus works from the back of the fabric towardthe face provided with an opening for the admission and exit of thefabric, a vertical l1qu1dchamber surrounding the said openln to seal theopening against the passageo air or vapor, means for guiding the fabricback and forth through said opening, a comdenser and a connection fromthe box to the in said passage.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising. a closedvaporizing box, meansfor permitting. the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of -sald box sealed against the passage of air orvapor, means for admitting steam to said box to drive the initiallyinclosed air out, and avalve controlled exit passage from said box toallow the escape ofthe air.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing'box,

means for permitting the continuous passage of a strip of fabric intoandout of said box sea-led against the assage of air or vapor, means foradmittlng steam to said box to drive the initially inclosed air. out, avalve controlled exit passage from said box to allow the escape oft-he'air, an air relief passage opening from said box, and athermostatic air relief valve in said passage.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of said box sealed against the passage of air orvapor, heating means within said box, a condenser, a connect-ion fromthe box to the condenser to allow the passage of vapor from the formerto the latter, means for automatically eliminating air from the saidapparatus while in operation.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof'fabric into and out of said box sealed against the passage of air orvapor, an air relief passage opening from said box, a thermostatic airrelief valve in said passage, a condenser, a connection from .said boxto said condenser to allow the passage of vapor from the former to thelatter, an'alr chamber connected to the condenser, a thermostatic airrelief. valve connected to said air chamber, and means for producing avacuum connected to the exit from said thermostatic air relief valve.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided w1th an o ening for the admission and exit ofthe abric, avertical llqllld chamber surroundin the said opening to sealthe opening agalnst the passage of air or vapor, an endless backingbelt, rolls for the belt extending through the said vertical chamber tothe said opening between a position within and a position without saidbox,

means for driving said endless belt, and means for guiding the fabricback and forth through saidopening with its back in contact with saidbelt.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, heating means located within said box, means forpermitting the continuous passage of a strip of fabric into and out ofsaid box sealed against the passage of air or vapor. means for guidingsaid fabric within said box in proximity to said heating means, acondenser, a connection from the box to'the condenser to allow thepassage of vapor from the former to the latter, and means for removingthe condensed products from the condenser.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, heating means located within said box, means formaintaining successive sections of temperatures, means for permittingthe continuous passage of a strip of fabric into and out of said boxsealed against the passage of air or vapor, and means for guiding saidfabric within said box in proximity to said heating means.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of said said heating means at successivelydiflt'erent box sealed against the passage of air or vapor, a condenser,connections between said box and said condenser to allow the passage ofvapor from the former to the latter. a rotary heated mangle locatedwithin said box, and means for guiding the fabric through said mangle.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of said box sealed. against the passage of air orvapor. a condenser, connections between said box and said condenser toallow the passage of vapor from the former to the latter, a plurality ofrotary heated mangles within said box, means for guiding the fabricthrough said mangles successively.

12. An apparatusof the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of said box sealed against the passage of air orvapor, a condenser, connections between said box and said condenser toallow the passage of vapor from the former to the latter, a plurality ofrotary heated mangles within said box,-means for maintaining successivesections of saidmangles at successively different temperatures, andmeans for guiding the fabric through said mangles successively.

13. An apparatus of the character de scribed comprising a closedvaporizing box, heating means located within said box, means for guidingthe fabric into and out of said box, and in proximity to said heatingmeans, a condenser, a connection between said box and said condenser,and a piston-operated valve balanced for back pressure located in saidconnection.

14. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided wit-h an opening for the admission and exit ofthe fabric, a vertical liquid chamber surrounding the said opening toseal the opening against the passage of air or vapor, a condenser, aconnection between said box and said condenser to allow the passage ofvapor from the former to the latter, a heated tank, a connection betweensaid tank and said condenser, and a connection between said verticalchamber and the said tank whereby the liquid may be drawn off from theformer to the latter to allow the vaporization of solvents absorbed insaid liquid and the discharge of the vapor into the condenser.

1.5. In apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permittinga continuous passage of av strip offabric into and out of said box,

heating means located within said box, means for maintaining successivesections of said heating means at successively different temperatures,means for guiding said fabric within said box inproximity to saidheating means.

16. In apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, m eans for permitting a continuous passage of a strip offabric into and out of said box, heating means located within said box,means for maintaining successive sections of said heating means atsuccessively higher temperatures, means for guiding said fabric withinsaid box in proximity to said heating means.

17. In apparatus of the .character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting a continuous passage of a strip offabric into and out of said box, a rotary heated mangle located in saidbox, means for guiding the fabric through said mangle, and means formaintaining successive sections of said mangle at successively differenttemperatures.

18. In apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting a continuous passage of a stripoffabric into and outof said of a; stri-p-of fabric into and out-ofsa-i'd. box, a rotary heated mangle located in-saxi'd box, means forguiding the fabric through said mangle, and means for maintainingsuccessive sections of said mangle at successively higher temperatures.

19. In apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizingbox, means for permitting a continuous passage box, aplurality of'rotary heated mangles within said box, means formaintaining successive sections of said maaigles atsuccessively highertemperatures, and means for guiding the fabric through said manglessuccessively.

20. In apparatus of the character described co-mprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting a continuouspassage of a strip offabric intoand out of said a box, heating means located'within said box,means for guiding said 'fabrlc-within SEL'ICl box in pro-ximity'to saidheating means, a

condenser, connections between said box and said condenser to allow thepassage of-vapor from t-he'fc-rmer to the latter, and means forautomatically eliminating air from said condenser.

21. In apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting a continuous passage of a strip offabric into and out of said box, heating means located within said box,means for guiding said fabric within'said box in proximity to saidheating means, a, condenser, connections between said box and saidcondenser to allow the passage of vapor from the former to the latter, apiston operated valve balanced for back pressure located in saidconnection, and means fOI'Wl'IP: tcmatically eliminating air from saidcon-. denser.

'22. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing bo-X,

means for permitting the continuous passage of a strip of fabric intoand out of said box sealed against the passage of air or vapor, heatingmeans within said box, means for guiding said fabric within said box inproximity to said heating means, a con-; denser, connections betweensaid box and said condenser to allow the passage of vapor from theformer to the latter and means for automatically removing the condensedproducts from the condenser.

23. An apparatus of the character described comprising'a closedvaporizing box, means for permit-ting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out-of said box sealed against the passage of airorvapor, heating means within said box, means for guiding said fabricwithin said box-in proximity to said heating means, a condenser,connections between said box and said condenser to allow the passage ofva-;

' -por from the formerto the latter, an air 'means' for permitting thecontinuous passage of a strip of fabric into and out of said box sealed.against the passage of air or vapor, a rotary heated-mangle located insaid box, means for guiding the fabric through said mangle, a condenser,connections between said box and said condenser to allow the, passage ofvapor from the former to the latter, an air chamber connected to thecondenser, and a thermostatic air relief valve connected to saidairchamer. t i

25. An. apparatus of the character de-. scribed comprising a closedvaporizing box, means for permitting the continuous passage of a stripof fabric into and out of said box sealed against the passage of air orvapor, heating means within said box, means for maintaining successlveSGCtlOIlS of said heatlng means at successively different temperatures,means for guiding said.

fabric within said box in proximity to said heating means, a condenser,and connections between said box and said condenser to allow the passageof vapor from the former to the latter.

26. An apparatus of the character de- 1 scribed comprising a closedvaporizingbox,

means for permitting the continuous passage of a-strip of fabric intoand out of said box sealed against the passage of air or vapor, heatingmeans within said box,

., means for guiding said fabric within said box in proximity to saidheating means, a

condenser, connection between said box and said condenser to allow thepassage of vapor from the former to the latter, and. means forautomatically and continuously removing the condensed products from thecondenser.

27. An apparatus of the character describedcomprising a closedvaporizing box,

means for permitting the continuous passage of a strip of fabric intoand out of said box sealed against the passage of air or vapor, heatingmeans within said box,

means for maintaining successive sectionsof said heatlng means atsuccessively different temperatures, means for guiding said fabricwithin said box in proximity to .said heating means, a condenser,connections between said box. and said condenser to allow the passage ofvapor from the former to the latter, an air chamber'connected tothecondenser, and a thermostatic air relief valve connected to said airchamber.

, 28. An apparatus of the character 'described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided with an opening for the passage of the fabric, avertical liquid chamber surrounding-said opening to seal the openingagainst the passage of air or vapor, heating means located within saidbox, means for guiding said fabric within said box in roxnnity to saidheating means, a con enser and connection from the box to the condenserto allow the passage of vapor from the former to the latter, and meansfor removing the condensed products from the condenser.

29. An' apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided with. an o ening for the passage of the fabric,a vertical liquid chamber surdenser, connection between said box, and

said condenser to allow the passage of vapor from the former to thelatter, a rotary heated mangle located within said box, and means forguiding the fabric through said mangle.

31. An apparatus of the. character described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided with an opening for the passage cf the fabric, avertical liquid chamber surrounding said opening to seal the openingagainst the passage of air or vapor, a condenser, connection betweensaid box and said condenser to allow the passage of vapor from theformer to the latter, a plurality of rotary heated mangles, and meansfor guiding the fabric successively throughsaid mangles.

32. An apparatus of the character described comprising a closedvaporizing box provided with an opening for the passage of the fabric, avertical liquid chamber surrounding said opening to seal the openingagainst the passage of air or vapor, heating means within said box,means for guiding said fabric within said box in proximity tosaidheating means, a condenser, connection between said box and saidcondenser to allow the passage of vapor from the former to the latter,and means for automatically removing .the condensed products from therounding said opening to seal the opening against the passagepf air orvapor, heating-means wlthin sand box, means for guiding said fabricwithin said box in proximity to said heating means, a condenser,connection between said box and said condenser to allow the passage ofvapor from the former to the latter, and means for automatically andcontinuously removing the condensed products from the condenser.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. HOPEWELL.

Witnesses:

NATHAN HEARD, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

